Holiday Policy for Apple Store returns and refunds...

[Dammit Cubs]

Just so people know...

I have said this before in forums about their holiday return policy which is January 8th for the Apple Store. What they fail to mention and what I have repeated said is that although you get a full refund, it's STORE CREDIT.

The standard return policy is two weeks and although they have extended it until the holidays, the full cash back or return to Credit card only happens within the first 2 weeks of the purchase. Anything beyond that is considered store credit

How do I know this? Because today I went to return my IPad Gold 32 Wifi because I bought another at Best Buy. It's been about one month but within the holiday policy.

• I had one person tell me that it's store credit if I return it past the 2 week mark.
• I had another girl in the SAME store, didn't even know the policy and thought it was a full refund.
• I had Apple Store customer care on the phone tell me other wise.
• I had another Apple Store customer care on the phone tell me full refund.

I walked in to return it and the lady IMMEDIATELY says store credit. I bitched and made a scene and said that this very store was giving false information. She had to go talk to the manager and the manager approved this return.

They wanted to give me CASH - since I'm Owed 800+ to my debit card. They said they are only allowed to give me $750 in cash while the rest is sent via mail.

I SERIOUSLY URGE PEOPLE TO GET THIS CLEARED. BECAUSE YOU DONT WANT TO BE CAUGHT IN THE SAME MESS I AM IN. THIS IS ALSO A WARNING AND PRECAUTION FOR PEOPLE WHO BOUGHHT IPAD FOR "TESTING OUT".

That is my 2 cents.

Cheers. And happy holidays.

 

[ac921ol]

well thanks for the heads up, ill find out tomorrow.

 

[trek360]

Wow seriously?! Glad you got your money back.
I'm guessing this is probably enforced inconsistently but that's good info. I was debating an iPad purchase thinking I'd get a longer return period (and full refund if returned).

 

[searching-again]

Apple's usual two-week window for returns is ridiculous when compared to a myriad of other retailers. Although I have a house full of Apple devices, I'm not blind to Apple's arrogance.

 

[Max(IT)]

Apple's usual two-week window for returns is ridiculous when compared to a myriad of other retailers. Although I have a house full of Apple devices, I'm not blind to Apple's arrogance.

Could you please link me of another company doing full refund without question asked for physical store purchases like Apple does ?

Btw I can't see what is the problem here ? Apple is giving full cash refunds for the usual 14 days period, extending this period for Christmas' holiday but only with store credit. It's somethings ADDED to the usual policy, not stolen. The only weird thing is that they should have stated that more clearly in the holidays policy to avoid confusion

 

[kamy100]

This is not the case in the UK.

I took my iPad Pro back after a month, they asked why I was returning it, told them it is a fantastic machine but too big for what I use it for. They refunded the money back onto my debit card with no messing about.

 

[Night Spring]

Well, we bought an iMac in November after the holiday return period went into effect, kept it for more than two weeks, and took it back last week, and got full credit back to the credit card we used to purchase it. Not a peep about store credit only. Also, by store credit, do you mean they wanted to give you an Apple gift card for the amount?

 

[CedarPoint182]

Huh?! My receipt says the return date is January 8th. Employees at a few stores in the LA area have told me the same. I've seen/heard no mention of store credit only, and I feel like that's a pretty big limitation....

 

[Night Spring]

I have to say it sounds more like there was some problem with returning the money to the debit card. Otherwise, why would they try to give back cash?

 

[Dammit Cubs]

i would get it confirmed. It has NOTHING to do with a debit card as it was processed the same as any credit card. Their specific reason was that the purchase date was greater than 2 weeks....Not the debit card. It was explicit.

 

[Night Spring]

i would get it confirmed. It has NOTHING to do with a debit card as it was processed the same as any credit card. Their specific reason was that the purchase date was greater than 2 weeks....Not the debit card. It was explicit.

Well, I don't know what to think, because as I said before, we were able to return an iMac more than two weeks after purchase, and get our money refunded to our credit card. Not a word about store credit only.

Which store was this?

Ok, I found the holiday return policy.
http://www.apple.com/shop/help/returns_refund

"Items purchased at the Apple Online Store that are received between November 1, 2015 and December 25, 2015, may be returned through January 8, 2016. Please note that all other terms and conditions provided in the Apple Online Store Sales and Refunds Policy are still applicable with respect to such items purchased."

And then:
"If you paid by credit or debit card, refunds will be sent to the card-issuing bank within five business days of receipt of the returned item or cancelation request. Please contact the card-issuing bank with questions about when the credit will be posted to your account."

If I were you, I'd go back to the store, show them this page, and complain.

 

[Tech198]

It would be a good reason to force customers to buy from you next time, but not only not giving you a refund, but just store credit.

Way to go Apple !! ..:

 

[Swiss-G]

Ok, I found the holiday return policy.
http://www.apple.com/shop/help/returns_refund

Thanks for that.

The Apple Store in the UK has a slightly different policy.

http://www.apple.com/uk/shop/help/returns_refund

Holiday Return Policy
Items purchased at the Apple Online Store that are received between November 7, 2015 and January 6, 2016, may be returned through January 20, 2016. Please note that all other terms and conditions provided in the Apple Online Store Sales and Refunds Policy are still applicable with respect to such items purchased. All purchases made after January 6, 2016 are subject to the Standard Return Policy.

 

[silverblack]

i would get it confirmed. It has NOTHING to do with a debit card as it was processed the same as any credit card. Their specific reason was that the purchase date was greater than 2 weeks....Not the debit card. It was explicit.

What country are you in?
When I purchased my iPP on launch date, the receipt specifically says return date is January 8.

 

[Max(IT)]

i would get it confirmed. It has NOTHING to do with a debit card as it was processed the same as any credit card. Their specific reason was that the purchase date was greater than 2 weeks....Not the debit card. It was explicit.

The issue seems to be limited to your Apple Store

 

[C DM]

i would get it confirmed. It has NOTHING to do with a debit card as it was processed the same as any credit card. Their specific reason was that the purchase date was greater than 2 weeks....Not the debit card. It was explicit.

Was that in writing somewhere?

 

[kazmac]

$750 in cash is what I've been refunded and told as well.

With all the exchanges and returns I've been through these past three months and now waiting on Apple to refund me $ that is due me, it doesn't surprise me they'll attempt to skirt around the extended holiday return window. After Best Buy's sales this weekend (I wish I would have acted on) and this latest go around with Apple financial, it's making me reevaluate where I buy my Apple products.

I blew off Best Buy for years. I won't do that going forward.

 

[Night Spring]

$750 in cash is what I've been refunded and told as well.

With all the exchanges and returns I've been through these past three months and now waiting on Apple to refund me $ that is due me, it doesn't surprise me they'll attempt to skirt around the extended holiday return window. After Best Buy's sales this weekend (I wish I would have acted on) and this latest go around with Apple financial, it's making me reevaluate where I buy my Apple products.

I blew off Best Buy for years. I won't do that going forward.

Which Apple Store was this? I'd like to know since it seems to be happening at some stores, but not others.

To do my own part to contribute to this discussion, we returned an iMac more than two weeks after purchase at Grand Central Station store in NYC, and they refunded the full amount to the credit card we used to purchase.

 

[kazmac]

Which Apple Store was this? I'd like to know since it seems to be happening at some stores, but not others.

To do my own part to contribute to this discussion, we returned an iMac more than two weeks after purchase at Grand Central Station store in NYC, and they refunded the full amount to the credit card we used to purchase.

Which Apple store for $750 cash refund max? 5th Avenue, Manhattan. They've been fantastic to me with returns and refunds (I returned my original iPad Mini 4 at 5th Avenue almost a month out of the return window for a complete refund.) I was very polite and so were they.

 

[Night Spring]

Which Apple store for $750 cash refund max? 5th Avenue, Manhattan. They've been fantastic to me with returns and refunds (I returned my original iPad Mini 4 at 5th Avenue almost a month out of the return window for a complete refund.) I was very polite and so were they.

And you had originally paid with credit card?

 

[kazmac]

And you had originally paid with credit card?

Yup. The $750 was from an earlier transaction (probably last year.)

 

[Night Spring]

Yup. The $750 was from an earlier transaction (probably last year.)

Huh? What do you mean?

OP says they paid for their item with a debit card, but was told they couldn't return the money to the debit card, only as store credit, and when they complained, was offered a refund in cash. Which is against the policy I found in the online Apple site. Did the same thing happen to you?

 

[kazmac]

Huh? What do you mean?

OP says they paid for their item with a debit card, but was told they couldn't return the money to the debit card, only as store credit, and when they complained, was offered a refund in cash. Which is against the policy I found in the online Apple site. Did the same thing happen to you?

Geez, I need to get some sleep. Running on fumes here. My original point was the $750 in cash is the maximum you can get back at the Apple stores.

So no the OPs situation is not what happened to me. I paid in cash and that's what I got back.

 

[Dammit Cubs]

Huh? What do you mean?

OP says they paid for their item with a debit card, but was told they couldn't return the money to the debit card, only as store credit, and when they complained, was offered a refund in cash. Which is against the policy I found in the online Apple site. Did the same thing happen to you?

I think the assumption is that because I paid with a debit card, - they paid me cash. That is not true. They never gave me a reason why they wouldn't put it back on my card. I just know when the manager approved the full refund, i got 750 cash + the remaining to be sent by mail. I was scratching my head on why they gave me cash instead of putting back on my card.

 

[Night Spring]

I think the assumption is that because I paid with a debit card, - they paid me cash. That is not true. They never gave me a reason why they wouldn't put it back on my card. I just know when the manager approved the full refund, i got 750 cash + the remaining to be sent by mail. I was scratching my head on why they gave me cash instead of putting back on my card.

So now that you know this is contrary to the policy stated on Apple's website, do you plan to do anything about it?